MDBW Mini-Camp Report: Trent Green Settles in while Daunte Culpepper Exits
 Here's some random notes and thoughts about this weekend's mini camp.
I was reading in the Herald this morning about how the Culpepper situation is overshadowing anything that's happening on the field.
Well, maybe that's the case in the press box, but that wasn't the case in the bleachers. Sure we are all aware of what's happening with Daunte Culpepper. But the real interest, and the main reason why the stands were as packed as I've ever seen them at a mini camp, was Trent Green. At the end of Saturday morning's camp session many of the players, as is usual at these camps, come over to the fans to sign autographs. By far the largest crowd was for Green, and he stayed long after most other players had left, chatting and signing and acknowledging the many shouted well wishes of the fans.
On the practice field it was clear that Green is going to need time to get to know his receivers. He had some nice completions, particularly a beautifully thrown deep ball to Derek Hagan for a TD. But he was also picked off a couple of times by Tillman in the morning session and once by Daniels in the afternoon on a deep throw to Ginn in the corner of the end zone. You had to love Daniels showboating after that one and celebrating with Porter.
Of the other quarterbacks, John Beck is impressive with a quick release. He throws the ball with plenty of zip, and they had him scrambling some at one point. His deep throws are quite accurate. He, like Green, is having to learn the terminology and the playbook, so it's too early to judge his performance. He threw an interception as did Lemon, but I don't think too much should be read into these mistakes at this stage.
Ronnie Brown has bulked up. He told me that his weight was 234 ponds when he was signing autographs, but he looks huge. Of course without pads it's impossible to judge the runners and the lines but Ronnie looked fast and powerful carrying the ball.
Lorenzo Booker is small by comparison, but looked quick nimble, and seems to have sure hands, as do Ginn & Chambers. Ginn is explosive and accelerated past Jason Allen for a deep completion on a pass from Lemon to a huge roar from the crowd. Both Kelly Campbell and Az-Zahir Hakim look fast, and spent time with the first unit.
David Martin looks to be a tight end that will get used in receiving situations by Cameron. He gets open and has surprisingly good hands for a player who has been used mainly as a blocker. The full backs also are being brought into receiving plays from the wide out position. By the way, Reagan Mauia is solid and surprisingly fast. He looks like a great pick up.
On defense, once again play without pads is difficult to judge, but Daniels and Lehan have looked impressive in the secondary and Jason Allen was burned a few times during the one on one plays. Zach and Jason have been spectators mostly as Cameron is limiting the risk of injuries. Traylor also is being used sparingly, and spent part of Saturday afternoon dragging a coach behind him attached to a harness. Obviously, being a football coach is not all glamour!
As far as the weather was concerned, it was wet on Friday afternoon, and the fans missed that practice when it moved into the Bubble. Other than that the sun was out and it was hot, especially Sunday morning when it was hard to sit and watch let alone be out there playing.
The punt return drills were fun to watch on Sunday and the crowd went wild when Ginn ran one back after a couple of juke moves. The fact that there was hardly anyone to beat in this practice drill didn't seem to matter.
The offensive line can't be judged on this no pads, limited contract practice, but the line up seems to be, at this stage, Vernon Carey at left tackle, Drew Mormino at left guard, Samson Satele at center (with the flowing pony-tail), Rex Hadnot at right guard, and L J Shelton at right tackle. The only difference seemed to be Chris Liwienski at left guard for Mormino. But it's early days yet, and things are sure to change a bit once the pads come on.
Oh, and one final observation. Prowling the sidelines on Saturday was Larry Coker, former Miami Hurricanes head coach. Don't know what that means, but he was there.
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